Little Bemidji Lake
Little Bemidji Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 292.88 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 293 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Becker County
Little Bemidji Lake is a 293-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Little Bemidji Lake ranks #49 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Bemidji Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 293 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 20% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Bemidji LakePublic
- Rainbow ResortSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Bemidji Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 282.67 | — |
| BCS | 19.52 | — |
| CNM | 16.69 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.49 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.85 | 0.15 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 10.77 | 1.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Little Bemidji is a lightly developed, 293-acre lake in north central Becker County, within the Ottertail River Watershed. The surrounding watershed is primarily mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with light development. There is a resort on the northwest shore and a public access on the west central shore. Boat…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Bemidji Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little BemidjiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Bemidji (1216)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little BemidjiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little BemidjiPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.35 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.5 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.39 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (19 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-04 (2021) | 2020-04-26 (2020) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-23 (2003) | 2004-12-08 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-06
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Bemidji Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Bemidji Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Otter Tail River; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 50 ft long.
- Surface area
- 290 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,480 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 13,312 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 45.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00025 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #49 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bemidji Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 292.88 acres.
Is Little Bemidji Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Bemidji Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 292.88 acres.
What fish are in Little Bemidji Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Bemidji Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Bemidji Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Little Bemidji Lake thaw?
- Little Bemidji Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Bemidji Lake, Rainbow Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Bemidji Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX40 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate